Power pressing machine



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y D. H. BENJAMIN E-r--AL POWER PRESSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16. 1925 s sneetsfsneem Jam 26, me., -e l157mm- H. BENJAMIN ELT AL.

POWER PRESSING MAGHNE Filed Jan'. 16 s sheets-shew. a

INVENTORS im my w26.

POWER PRES S ING MACHINE] Filed Jan. 16, 1925 5 SheetsSheet :5

.Patented Jan. 26, A19.26.V UNITED STATES DANA. I-I. BENJAMIN AND -HOWARD W. ]3Ili}NJ'AIlllI1\,4 OE CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO,

PATENT- oFFicE.-

ASSIGNORS TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI,

' OHIO, A CORPORATION'OF OHIO.

POWER rnnssine MACHINE.,

Application -iled'January To all wlimri t 'may concern.

Be it known that we, DANA H. BENJAMIN- i and HOWARDl W. BENJAMIN, citizens' of the :One object ofthe invention is to lprovidel an improved pressing machinetin which the moving pressing head isz-mounted lto move away fromv the relativelystationary press-` ing bed when the press is opened, this mo.-

tion including a material horizontal separation to produce an unusually widel open efp fect with complete exposure ofthe work for 'the p'urpose of inspection, arrangement, ad-

justment thereof or the like, but which' press nevertheless produces -the actual pressing ef` fect by' downward vertical motion o f the .head toward the bed and ywithout liability ofv interfering with. the lay 1 of the work, and in which all head motion is or maybe produced by power actuated mechanism.; i

' A .further object ofhthe invention is to provide suitable improved guiding means foi-controlling the head movement during its actuation by the power mechanism, said guiding means being so arranged that the power mechanism rstumoves the head sub-l y stantially horizontall finto proper registering relation with the ed and then vertically relative to the bed into pressing engagement therewith. a 1g A further object of. the invention is to provide an arrangement of" this kind in which the head is carried by av supporting member having swinging motion forwardly and rearwardly in a' vertical plane, but in which means is provided for positively preventing sway, oscillation or otheimovement of said memberv or of the head in a .direction normal to` saidplane.

A further' obfect of the invention isigenerally to improve the operating mechanism',

for producing movement of the head and its' supporting member, not only by simplifying saidmechanism but also by such an arrange- 1'6, 1925. serial No.v 2,859.

ment thereof as will produce the proper 1no` tion and pressingA effects in the most .eliicient manner. i 7

A further object of the invention is' to provide an improved guard for the entrance to the space between the pressing members, andwhich guard has motion generally like Vthat ofthe head, to wit, both horizontal and vertical motions, and n' is movable both bodily -with thel head and relatively thereto,

`said guard lfaving motion across the bed' -before the head and bed come together so as to brush or wipe away the operators hand or arm should it chance to bein dangerous position, but without liability of disturbing Y the lay or arrangement of the garment.

A further object of the-invention is to provide aeguard of the'character described, the Ymotion of which is produced by tion between the head and bed.A l A further object ofthe invention is to provide simple and .improvedl controlling mechanism for the press.

Further objects of the invention are/in part obvious and in-part will appear more lin detail hereinafter..

In the drawings, which .represent one suit-` able .embodiment of. the invention, Fig. 1 is .a side elevation, showing the moving parts zrelative inoin three positions', the full lines representing the closed position, the dash double dot lines representing the parts in open position and the dashsingle dot lines representing the parts in intermediate position; Fig.

2 isv a detail sectional elevation of the vdriving means on the line 2 2, Fig.4 4; Fig. 3 is `the left in Fig. 7, with part of the cover broken away `to show interior construction; Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof .with a part of the casing broken away to illustrate interior parts; and Fig. 8 is a diagram of :the electrical apparatus. i

which is mounted a relatively stationary pressing bed 2 cooperating with a movable Referring to the drawings the 'machine illustrated comprises a suitable frame l onco a'rear elevation of the press, part being in i' pressing head either or both of said bed and head being hollow and heated by steam the like in thefusuai manner, if desired. vlelew the bedis the work supporting table 1'. rEhe head 8 is suitably mounted upon a supporting member 4 Ain the forin of a bifurcated arm lor lever, its two parallel side portions being connected by cross bars 5, said arm curving rearwardly and downwardly behind the pressing bed and work table 1a and terminating at its lower end at a `low level in the frame beneath the bed 2 and preferably at a point not in front of the same." lln the form shown the arm terminates at its lower end in rear of the bed at the back of the press where the two side arms of members 4 are connected by a cross l pin or shaft 6 Imounted for limited vertical motion in vertically extending elongated .slots 7 in the frame (seeFig. 3). Said head supporting-member is normally held in an elevated position with the pin 6 at the upper ends of the slots 7 byl suitable yielding means, such as a tension spring -8 connected at one end to a sleeve or enlargement 9 of the'pin 6 and at its upper end to a rearward extension 10 of the stationary machine frame. Said extension may also serve to steady the member 4 in its swinging movement and'limit member 4 to motion only in a vertical plane from front to rear, and

preventing any side to "side sway, oscillation or other motionv of the head supporting member, such effect being accomplished by facing E the side surfaces 11 ofthe extenf sion where it passes between the side arms of member 4 to form, abutments along which the similarly facedsurfaces of the arms of member 4 slide. A

The head 3 is actuated by suitable power means, shown as an electric motor 12 having its shaft 13 suitably connected, such as by a universal coupling 14, to a shaft 15 Yprovided with a worm 16 driving a worm wheel 17 on a shaft 18 journalled in the side walls of the frame and provided with a cr-ank arm 19 connected by a' link 20 to an arm 21 extended forwardly from the head supporting member 4 intermediate its ends. The motor 12 always rotates in the samev direction" and a full rotation of shaft 18 completes one cycle of operation of the press, moving the head from full openposition to full closed position with pressu e applied to the work and then returning said head to full open position.

ln Fig. 1 the dash double dot lines represent full open position Arof the press. Member 4 is yieldingly supported in its uppermost position with the pin 6 at the upper end of the slots 7. The arm 21 extends upwardly and forwardly, While'the crank arm 19 and link 20extend upwardly and rearwardly; Whenmotor 12 is started, as will iiereafter'appear, its effect is to rotate the crank 19 in the direction of the arrow 25,

registering relation with the bed. rllhe last e increment of such registering motion is almost a slide across the bed or the work -thereon, but without actually touching the woik. Analysis 0f the motion shows that the head approaches the bed so close that it will brush away an operators hand carelessly allowed to remain upon the bed or the work lying thereon or at least by touching her hand `with the hot .head will warn her of the closing effect sov that the hand is instantly withdrawn, but the head is nevertheless not\so close to the work'as to disarrange its lay as previously set by' the opcrator. The registering motion terminates with the head directly over the bed in the dash single dot position, Fig. 1. This position is definitely determined in any suitable manner, suoli as .by engagement with a roller 22 on the machine frame of a pad 23 on the front surface of the head support 4 or a cross bar thereof. The pad 23 `may be a metal surface yor the arm 4 may have a pad of'some iirm non-yielding noise-reducing material, such as fibre or the like, attached thereto, the'use of such material being possible becausev usually the pressure between the pad and roller during opeiation of the press is not serious.

The second phase of the operating cycle is the relative vertical motion between the head and bed, produced in this press by bodily motion ormotion Vof translation of the head supporting member 4 and the head earried thereby;downwardly. To avoid possible disarrangement of the lay of the work suitable means is provided for guiding the head in its vertical movement, the guiding" means in the press shown including both the slots' T which .extend vertically and therefore guide the pin 6 and the lower end of the member 4 during its motion of translation, and the roller 22 and pad 23, which guide the upper portion of the lever 4 and head during the pressing movement. This downward or pressing motion of the head is produced by travel of the crank 1S) from the position B to the full line position i, Fig. 1, during' `which inovemcnt`t-he crank .19 and link 2O function as a toggle with au increasingly powerful force exerted upon the headivand tending to move it downward into pressing relation with the bed. The parts 19 and 2O during such motion are exerting their effect upon ariu 21 by a pull llO downwardly and slightly toward the 'front ever, is prevented by the roller 22 so that the net effectY is tohold the pad 23 'against roller 22 andto move the lever 4 and head 3 directly downwardly lagainst the' bed. vWhen position C is reached the head and Abed have been'closed together by a pulling las determined by the operator.

effect transmitted directly from the link to the member 4, but not through the pivot on which said member swings. Therefore, by making the lever 4 sutiiciently Arigid to avoid material spring of the metal the full force of the power mechanism is directly 'transmitted to the work. without material wear or strain upon the pivot 6 or the walls of theislot'? and lost mot-ion caused by wear is avoided.

Inthe operation of the press, as will ap-- pear, the parts stop in the position C, full closed position, where the 'work is held under `pressure for a sufficient' length of time The' motor is then again started and moves the' parts i through the third phase of the cycle, to wit,

the opening phase, in'whichfthelcrank arm rotate; from position C to its original position A. The iirst increment of such-motion relieves the pressure ponthe' work. In addition the crank 19 is rotating upwardly a'i'd rearwardly, with a tendency to liftfthe' arm 4 and if anything, to push it rearwardly. Pin 6, therefore, immediately rises in the slots 7 bythe effect' of the spring 8, un-

til, when the pin reaches the upper ends ofv said slots, the lever 4 begins to swing rearwardly about pin 6 as an axisuntil the parts reach the initial position 'A,zwhereupon the motor is stopped and the ,parts are 'ready for another-cycle. l

To bring the parts, to rest accurately in either open or closed full, pressure position one oi the rotatingl parts is provided. with suitable braking means, preferably .controlled in timed relation. with'the motor operation! 'As illustrated, one of the motor driven shafts is provided with a brake drum 24, shown asaI part of and'associated with thefcoupling 14, said drunrcooperatng with a brake band 2'5'normally held in gripping or braking relation with the'drum by a.

preferably adjust-able compression spring 26 eii'ective upon a collar 27 at the end of a l rod- 28 attached to one end of the brake band. 4The pressure of said spring may be increase'dto release theV brake by energization of an electro-magnet, the coil 29 of which when, energized attracts a pivoted armature-30 provided with an arm 3l carrying the adjustable abutment screw 32 located opposite the end of the rod 28.

fllhe automatic controlling mechanism'for the press includes ,a suitable timing switch, including a casing 33 and cover 34 surrounding one endoffthe shaft 18 which actuates the crank 19. Thecasing is iixedly attached to the machine frame, such as by a bolt 35l passing through an elongated slot in an ear' 36 ofthe casing, enabling the casing and the parts carried thereby to be rotatably adjusted around the aXisof the shaft 18 for Ltiming purposes. In the casing are loca-ted' two conducting segments 37, 38, both cooperatino' with a rot-atingA brush 39 attached to a conducting ring 40 carried by an insulating block 41 on shaft 18, the block 41 being preferablyrotatably adjustable on shaft 18 and held by a set screw '42 so that it may be rotated on said shaft for timing' purposes.

A cont-inuous portion of the conducting xring 40 cooperates with a yielding brush 43 on a stationary insulating block 44 having a binding ost 45. Each of the two segments l37, 38 is Apreferably rotatably adjustable around the shaft 18 in the' switch casing,

such as'by'the'provision of elongated slots 46 in the casing through whiclivpass the bolts for fastening the insulating blocks 47 carryingvsaid'segments. Also,'each segment terminates in a. raised portion 48 over which the rotating .brush 39 rides to cause it to 4jump from segment to segment with a quick make andI break.

The electrical circuits are indicatedin n tion of coil 51 closes two r(sets of normally ,opening contacts 52, 53. The contacts"53 s hort circuit the` startingbutton and establish a maintaining circuit for the relay from theline'l through lthe wire 54, thecore 117m" of the relay', contacts 53,:windingl 51, contact finger 39, segment 37 to the other side of the line, so that momentary/'depression of the starting button isalone sufficient to energize the relay after which the maintaining circuit maintains said relay energized .until otherwisefde-energized, 'as will appear. Closing of contacts 52 completes the motor circuit, from L1 by way ofjwire 54, contacts 52 and .wire 55 through both the armature and `*field of them'otor, as well `as through the brake releasing vcoil 29. Energization of said jcoil releases the 'brake 'and the motor begins to run, moving ,the shaft 18 and carrying the head from the initial positionA to position C, at whichl ,time the brush 39 leaves segment 37 and passes upon segment 38. During this -.jump thel maintaining` circuit through the relay coil 51 is opened vand contacts 52 and 53 immediately open,"thereby interrupting the motor cirlay 51 passes through the brush 3S) and segment 38. As before, the brake is released, and the motor starts, rotating shaft 18 and carrying the parts through the third phase of the cycle 'from the position C to position A. Then thisA position isy reached the, rotating `brush 39 jumps off fromthe segment 3S and passes upon segment 37, thereby interrupting the maintaining circuit for the relay coil 51, resulting in opening lof contacts 52, 53 and defenergization of the motor circuit` and brake coil. The brake is again applied and brings the parts to rest in full open position. y While, as stated, the motion of the headhorizontally across the bed into registering relation therewith may itself serve to brush away the operators hands carelessly left ,in dangerous position, nevertheless an additional guard may in some cases be desirable, Land the drawings show such an arrangement. rlhe guard illustrated comprises a guarding member GO of light form surrounding the front and end edges of the head'` and carried by-arms 61 fixed to a shaft 62 journalled in bosses on the arms of member 4. Shaft 62 is provided with anarm 63 carrying a pin or roller 64 workin in va cam slot G of a member 66 support ad, upon the rearward extension ofthe machine frame, such cam slot at its rear end hav-ing a downwardly extending portion A67.

lustrates the closed full pressure poen .ofthe press. Remembering thatthe second phase of the cycle of operations is the' downward motion of the head toward -thebed it will be clear that during such phase the pin or roller 64 has served as a fulcrnm and the downward motion of shaft ,f t2 has depressed the guard below the head so that it overlaps the bed and ev across the contacting surfaces betwe,

. head and bed. As the press 'opens the u vWard motion-of member '4 first carries` the shaft 62 upwardly and elevates the guard, after which rearward motion of member carries the pin (it along slot and mores lthe guard rearwardly across the bed with motion similar tothat ofthe head. T fiually as the roller Glpa'sses into the downwardly extending portions 6T at the rca rot the slots G5 the guard is elevated above the head and out of an)v obstructing position.`

As the vpress 'closes the roller 64: moves fon' w'ardly through theV cam slot 65 and the 'fos an "L Ldv, o. he "uns hand e the poss bil puy. the rauings show the forw :i cam slot 65v as provided h a port i extending upwardly onan inclination 1J `ward the' frontof the machine. rll`he effec; 'of this short portionA 65a of the cam Aslot is to produce somel downward motion of the guard during the latter portion of its horizontal motion toward the -front ofthe machine and just before the relative vertical closing motion between the head and bed is produced. ln other words, beforethe relative -vertical pressing movement between y the head and bed begins,` the guard has been movedv downwardly to extend below the edge of the bed and thereby insure removal of an operators handl or arm which might be in dangerous position. Relative 'verti-v calfmovement'between the 'head and bed vproduces additional` downward movement vofthe guard, as before described A.Obviously by suitable conigurat'on of the.

'cam slot 65 the guard may be given any desired motion relative to the head, and particularly vertical motion relative thereto.

This press `is-eXtremely simple and quite safe in operation, but nevertheless is actuated by power and without unnecessary labor by the operator. 1t widely exposes the' pressing bed in open press position so that the Work can he readily inspectedv or arranged. Nevertheless, during` the closing and pressure operations there' is'no liability of injuring the operator and the work is pressed by direct vertical pressure without liability of disturbing the lay. The timing switch parts are capable of adjustment properly time the'points at which the rola coil'is deenergized and the brake is 'appli'. d, so that by simple adjustment the parts can be made to stop in the most elcient positions with maximum pressure and full open position of the pressing members.

Other advantages f the invention wi apparent to those skilled in the art to w c it relates.

lVhat we claim is:

1'. rtvgarment press, 'comprising a a stationary Werl; supporting bei ing head, a support therefor extend wardly and downwardly behind the ou" a al; its lower end 'provided with a hoiA shaft having limited vertical'iinovf" nent i the frame, yielding supporting m said support, and means for swii supportabout the axis of said sha the head into and out of registration u' the bed and for moving said shaft vertically; f

to 'produce vertical pressing motion of the head toward the hed.

2. A garment press, comprislng a frame,

limit forward swinging motion of said sup' the head into and out of registration with.

the bed and for moving said shaftvertically to produce vertical pressingmotion of the head toward the bed, and means adapted to port. i

3. A garment press, comprising a frame, a stationary work supporting bed, a press-y ing head, a support therefor extending rear` wardly and downwardly behind the bed zontal shaft having limited vertical move ment in the frame, yielding supporting means yfor said support, means for swinging said support about the axis of said shaft-to 'move the head into and out of registration above its lower end and tending to move the with the bed and for moving said shaft ver-` tically to produce vertical 'pressing motion of the head toward the bed, and means adapted to limit forward swinging motion .of said support and to` guide the same during-vertical motion. l

4f. garment press, comprising a frame, a -stationary work supporting be a pressing head, a support therefor extending rear'- wardly and downwardly behind the bed'and at its lower end mounted in the frame for` both swinging and vertical motion, motor means, and means actuated thereby for producing both of said motions of said support.

.5. A garment press, comprising aj frame, a stationary work supporting be ing head, a support 4therefor extending rearwardly and downwardly behind the bed and `at its lower end mounted in vthe frame for :both 'swinging and vertical'm'otion, oper- A'ating means connected to said support same forwardly and downwardly, .and means for limiting forward movement of said support, whereby said operating means produces vertical motion only of said 'support' after said limiting means is reached.

6. A. garment press, comprisin a stationary work supporting bed, a pressing head, a support therefor extending rearwardly and downwardly behind the bed and at its lower end'mounted in the frame for' both swinging and vertiral. motion, a ro-' tatable crank, `a link connecting the same to` ,l said support above the lower end thereof,

and means for operating said crank.

A garment press, comprising a frame, a stationary work supporting bed, a pressing head, a support therefor extending rearwardly and downwardly behind the bed a vp ressa, frame,

A and at its lower end mounted in thefranie' for both swinging and vertical motion,"a

' rotatable crank, -a link connecting the same to said support above the lower end thereof, and` means .for-limiting forwardmotion of` said support, whereby said crank ,produces vertical motion only of said support after said limiting means is reached.

a stationary work supporting-bed', a press- 1 ing head mounted in` said frame for swinging motion about a horizontal axis into and saidfguardingmeans. yand at its lower end provided with a hori- `'.garment press, comprising' a frame, a stationary work supporting bed, a pressing head, a" support therefor having swing- 8; A.. garment press, comprising aframe,

connectionsbetween said guard and frame arranged to cause the guard to move with the head across the`bed during forward and rearward motion of said support and to `move downwardly in advance of the head wheny said support moves downwardl 10. Agarmentpress, lcomprisin a rame, a stationary Worksupporting be apressing-head, ya support ing motion forwardly and rearwardly and also vertical motion in said frame,ya guard -for saidhead carried by said support, cam vmeans upon the frame, and means connecttherefor having vswinging said cam means and guard for actuating the-latter. s

11. A garment press, comprisin a frame, a stationary work supporting be a pressing head, va support therefor extending rearwardly and downwardly behind the bed and at its lowerend mounted in the frame lfor bothswinging and vertical motion, and a singlemeans forproducing bothv of said motions of said support.y

` 12@ A garment press, comprising a frame,

a stationary worksupporting bed, a pressing head, .a lsupport therefor extendingl downwardlypast"the bed and at its lower end provided with a horizontal shaft having limited vertical movement in the frame, yielding supporting means for said support, and means for swinging said support about the axis of said shaft to move the head into and out of registration with the bed and for moving said shaft vertically to produce vertbicl pressing motion of the head toward the In testimony whereof we hereby affix our l signatures.

DANA H. BENJAMIN. HWARD W. BENJ All/11N.' 

